Help with an MBox

[D]

I cant get ahold of Loretian so I was gonna see if anyone here knows anything about them.


I can get a regular Mbox for 250 OR buy the new MBox2 for 400.................  Is the Mbox2 worth an extra 150?

[providman]

Well, I have no experience with the MBox, I did look into it before I bought the Line6 UX2, but according to many reviews I've read the new MBox's preamps are far superior to the old ones, which , in the end, besides using it as a dongle for ProTools, is what you're getting it for, no? So....., if you can afford the extra $150, why not get the best sound possible? Also, digidesign just announced a new MBox - the MBox mini:
http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2006/M-Audio-Mbox-2-Mini.html

Here's some more links to help you get some more info:

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?

http://gearslutz.com/board/

http://www.harmony-central.com/


If you're hellbent on using protools, the MBox seems to be a good, hell great way to get into it inexpensively. Another product you might want to check out for protools, & again I looked into this also before deciding on Line6, is the MAudio BlackBox:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MAudioBlackBox-main.html

Guitar fx, amp sims, drum machine, & 1/4 inch & XLR inputs for recording, & protool compatability. I looked long & hard at this, but felt, ultimately, the Line 6 had better, more useable amp sims & fx, as well as some very cool classic vocal preamp sims, and beside, I already had Ableton Live & Adobe Audition to use as my recording software, so I didn't need protools. In case you're not looking for protools compatability:

http://www.line6.com/toneport/

Good Luck!

Never mind, I just saw the other thread where you bought the MBox 2. Good Luck!

[D]

Thanks Dude for the time!


This guy just bought a Digi002 and he was selling his Mbox2 rather cheap so I ended up snagging one for 350.00.... I couldnt pass that up.

Now I am gonna check into some Pro Tools classes and buy a book or two on it and get studied up

I know it will take patience but I cannot wait to record my stuff with Pro Tools....


Three things I hate most about my recordings were the Drums..... My drum machines are generic and lame, My guitar Tones and just the overall sound quality of the recordings.

I like my songwriting, I like my overall musicianship but I find myself constantly being bogged down by my lack of quality equipment.

So now I have no more excuses cause with this Mbox2 and once I learn how to use it, I feel I will be able to compliment my talents with the proper recording equipment.

[providman]

You should look into some drum loop & midi drum programs...

http://www.ezdrummer.com/index.asp

http://www.betamonkeymusic.com/

http://www.drumsondemand.com/

http://www.rayzoon.com/jamstix.html
(has a downloadable demo ver)

http://www.smartloops.com/
(tons of free drum loops here)

http://www.discretedrums.com/

https://www.primediabooks.com/ProductDetail.asp?PRDID=4668
(protools magazine)

These are just a few, there are TONS more.

I have a halfway decent drum machine, the BossDR3, & these drum loops, especially Beta monkey & Discrete Drums, all sound wayyyyy better. The jamstix is intriguing - you can actually jam with it & it responds to what you're playing automatically. I'm getting EZ drummer soon - I'll post a review when I do.

[D]

Awesome!!!!!


So explain to me how this works, U download a drum loop program and u are able to use their beats in your songs?


I am a total novice at this stage, I have lots and lots of studying to do.  But its gonna be exciting when it clicks and I figure it all out.


When u get that EZ Drummer, let me know how it is.

[providman]

With betamonkey and discrete drums, they're not "programs", per se, rather, they're collections(huge collections, hundreds of beats & loops) of drum beats which you simply drag onto your timeline & stretch to whatever length it need to be, & voila! Instant drum beat.? Anytime you want to change the beat, add a cymbol crash, speed up or slow down the tempo, or add accents, you simply either drag a new loop onto the timeline at the point you want the change to occur, or you do an edit to the loop already on the timeline to change it's characteristics(slowing down or speeding up tempo, for example). If you're not familiar with timeline, computer based recording, like ProTools,? it probably all sounds pretty overwhelming but trust me, once you learn protools you'll see how simple it is to use loops in your recordings.

Using programs like ez drummer & jamstix is a little bit different, as they're midi programs and so you would be inserting them into a midi track, & then opening up the program to do your tweaks & edits, but again, once you learn protools, it won't be any mystery.

Sony Acid is probably the granddaddy of loop based music creation programs. I know you can download a demo version of it from their site

http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/acidfamily.asp

as well as a users manual & free loops.? If you know how to use loops in Acid, you will know how to use them in ProTools(or any recording program).

Cheers!

[D]

Wow all that sounds intriguing.

I somewhat understand what u are saying already, I plan on reading at least one manual before even attempting to record.

Im gonna be patient and learn as much as I can...... Ive been working on my CD for about 10 years already, so two more wont hurt right?

[D]

I got my MBox2 today i have my compuer.

I got a Dell INtel 2 Core 2 Duo 2.00Ghz 4mb processor

120 GB Hard drive and 2 GB of Ram.


I cant wait to get started. I ordered a 40 dollar manual, it should be here by the end of the week and I have to put my guitar in the shop to get it fixed, the bridge and neck need adjustment.

Then I wil start my adventures into Pro Tools.


I cant wait!

[D]

I got everything hooked up tonight.

I am waiting on my Mic, my headphones and my guitar to be fixed. in the meantime and I am studying,Loretian is helping me learn THANK GOD and i am finishing up some new songs.

I cannot wait.

I sent back my laptop and ordered a desktop. It was very simple to set up, no problems at all!

I wish I would've saved up for the Factory Bundle now

Plug ins are EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!